Even though Atlantic Records remastered a good chunk of the Genesis catalog in the 1990s calling the batch "The Definitive Editions," Rhino Records has made that title and those previous CD releases almost pointless. Rhino has joined with Tony Banks, Phil Collins, and Mike Rutherford to release three box sets promised to overhaul the sound and presentation of almost every Genesis studio album ever released.
In Mid May, the first of those box sets, Genesis: 1976-1982, was released and the results are stunning.

First off, instead of releasing the the box sets chronologically, Rhino begins with the precious middle era -- the time period that most hardcore Genesis fans feel was the time the band created their best album music.
Sure, there's no Peter Gabriel here, but we get newly remixed and remastered versions of A Trick of the Tail from 1976, Wind and the Wuthering from 1977, And Then There Were Three from 1978, Duke from 1980 and Abacab from 1981.

But as part of the boxed set, each CD is released as a two-CD set -- a CD version of the album as well as a DVD that includes a 5.1 Surround Sound mix of the album, music videos from the album, photo galleries, photo reproductions of tour programs, live concert footage, and brand new interviews from 2007 with the band about the making of each record.

Besides all that, there is a book of essays on each album as well as a sixth CD with all the B/Sides/non album tracks from 1976 to 1982 including the all songs from the Spot the Pigeon and 3X3 EPs. All that alone would be worth the price for any Genesis fantastic. But are all the extras really worth spending more than $100 a pop for the boxed set?

Yes.

The music on the CDs alone sound incredible compared to the Atlantic remasters from the 90s. If you remember, Atlantic made remastered versions of all the Yes studio albums and later Rhino came along and made superlative remasters to those, rendering the previous Yes remasters useless for those who crave improved sound, texture and nuance.
And texture and nuance have always been hallmarks in the grand progressive rock sound of Genesis.

The last thing Genesis: 1976-1982 will remind fans of is how integral keyboardist Tony Banks is to the music of Genesis. Phil Collins once said in an interview that although his solo records and the solo releases of Mike Rutherford have garnered the most commercial attention over the years, people who love Genesis love the band because of what Tony Banks brings. Never a show off like Rick Wakeman or Keith Emerson, Banks has always specialized in thick ethereal chords and strong pop melodies.

The period in between 1976 and 1982 was the time when Banks' songwriting was at its strongest -- whether it was the majesty of Wind and Wuthering or the back to basics art rock of Abacab, Genesis always was and always will be Tony Banks' band.

Review by Steven Ward
July 19, 2007